238 undocumented workers get the cane

Home Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Abdul Rahman Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat
today that this figure is aside from the 13,702 undocumented workers who have
been charged and are currently serving time before being deported.
<p>It contrasts with the situation of 150 Malaysian employers whose court cases
are still pending.</p>
<p>Replying to points raised by Madius Tangau (BN-Tuaran) on the matter, Abdul
Rahman said according to data provided for by the Immigration authorities, there
are 1.83 million documented workers, adding that &#147;no (documented) foreign
worker or employer has been caned.&#148;</p>
<p>He said following the March 2005 amnesty, nearly 400,000 undocumented workers
have returned to their respective countries.</p>
<p><b>Internal security problem</b></p>
<p>Meanwhile, Chor Chee Heung (BN-Alor Setar) alleged that there are about 700,000
undocumented workers in the country.</p>
<p>Combined with those documented, there are a total of 2.5 million foreign workers
in the country, he claimed.</p>
<p>&#147;If there are no mechanisms to control (their influx), we will be flooded
with foreign workers, whether legal or illegal, and this will pose an internal
security problem,&#148; said Chor.</p>
<p>In response, Abdul Rahman said that joint efforts between Immigration, civilian
volunteers and the police have succeeded in mitigating the flow of illegals
into the country.